(ATR) South Korean President Jae In Moon is looking to keep up the momentum in inter-Korean talks spawned by the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Moon is sending a special envoy to the North "who will reciprocate the visit by North Korea's special envoy Kim Yo Jong and confirm details of issues discussed during a high-level North Korean delegation's South Korea visit" during the Winter Games last month, according to a press release from the Moon administration.
Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivered Kim's invitation for Moon to visit Pyongyang during her three-day visit to South Korea that featured her attendance at the Opening Ceremony in PyeongChang.
While Moon himself is not going, sending an envoy would be considered a positive step in thawing the relationship between the two countries. No date for the envoy’s visit was revealed.
During the Games, Moon hailed PyeongChang 2018 as an event that has been successful in "advancing inter-Korean talks" and North Korea’s participation "lowered some tensions" on the Korean peninsula.
North Korea’s participation in the 2018 Olympics came at the last minute after many months of behind the scenes diplomatic talks. After the South Korean government approved conditions for the largest ever North Korean delegation in the country, the IOC quickly followed suit. The IOC granted wild card spots for all 22 North Korean athletes, the largest delegation for the country in a Winter Games. A unified Korean hockey team was created, the first ever in Olympic competition and the first in any sport since 1991.
Moon told reporters during a visit to the Main Press Center in PyeongChang last month that the North Korean delegation allowed the Games to achieve its goal of a peace Olympics. He said the work must now be done to advance dialogue with North Korea, eventually thawing tensions enough for the U.S. to consider talks.
It appears he is taking the next step to make that happen.
Written by Gerard Farek
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